Parasite Context Flashcards
What is Cultural Hegemony?
A Marxist idea by Antonio Gramsci that describes the dominance of the ruling class in establishing cultural norms for society.
It reflects how the beliefs and values of the powerful become accepted norms for everyone.
Who proposed the concept of Cultural Hegemony?
Antonio Gramsci
A Marxist theorist known for his contributions to cultural and political theory.
How does Cultural Hegemony affect those below the ruling class?
It becomes something to aspire to or compare oneself against.
This reinforces the power balance in favor of the ruling classes.
What is ‘Cool Capitalism’?
The idea that capitalist ideologies are so ingrained in culture that they are accepted as common sense.
It highlights how consumers become blind to exploitation in pursuit of aspirational products.
Define Capitalism.
An economic and political system where trade and industry are controlled by private owners for profit.
Capitalism leads to the production of addictive and aspirational products.
What example illustrates ‘Cool Capitalism’?
Apple’s products, whose sleekness blinds consumers to worker exploitation in sweatshops.
Consumers are aware of the exploitation but choose to ignore it due to product desirability.
What is Neoliberalism?
A political ideology advocating for citizens as consumers, privatization, free trade, austerity, and deregulation.
It gained prominence after WW2, particularly in the 1970s with leaders like Reagan and Thatcher.
List some crises associated with Neoliberalism.
- Financial meltdown of 2008
- Offshoring of wealth and power
- Collapse of public health and education
- Resurgent child poverty
- Epidemic of loneliness
- Collapse of ecosystems
- Rise of Donald Trump
These crises illustrate the significant impact of Neoliberal policies.
What does ‘Hell Joseon’ refer to?
A term criticizing socioeconomic circumstances in South Korea, including unemployment, inhumane working hours, and socioeconomic inequality.
It reflects a sense of pessimism among young people amid a competitive job market.
What are ‘dirt spoons’ and ‘gold spoons’ in South Korea?
‘Dirt spoons’ refer to those born into low-income families, while ‘gold spoons’ refer to those from wealthier families.
This terminology highlights the stark economic inequality present in South Korean society.
How does South Korea’s economic inequality compare to other OECD countries?
It is higher than many OECD members and comparable to Britain and Latvia.
Economic disparities have worsened in recent years.
What sentiment is prevalent among young people in South Korea?
A sense of fatalism due to a highly competitive education system and job market.
Knowing the ‘proper’ people is essential for societal advancement.
